In this issue: Science News | Current Publications |  Industry News | Policy News | Events Subscribe |  Unsubscribe TOP STORIES Newborn Brain Cells Show the Way An international collaboration of researchers illustrates how young brain cells improve our ability to navigate our environment. [Salk Institute, San Diego] SCIENCE NEWS Max Planck Researchers have Succeeded in Reprogramming Clearly Defined Adult Cells into Pluripotent Stem Cells, Directly and Without Viruses Researchers have succeeded for the first time in culturing a clearly defined cell type from the testis of adult mice and converting these cells into pluripotent stem cells without introduced genes, viruses or reprogramming proteins. [Max Planck Institute, Munich] Research Shows Viability of Purification of Near-pure Cell Populations and Improved Cell Survival After Fluorescence-activated Cell Sorting New data presented at the International Society for Stem Cell Research 7th Annual Meeting highlights data further validating the viability of tools used for separating near-pure populations of stem cell-derived neurons from undifferentiated stem cells. [BD Biosciences, San Diego] Oxford Biomedica Announces Update on Phase I/II Study of ProSavin(R) In Parkinson's Disease Oxford BioMedica announced recently that patients treated at the first dose level have maintained their improvement in motor function for one year, with an average improvement of 29%. [Oxford BioMedica, Oxford] Visit our events page to stay up to date with the latest events in the cell, gene and immunotherapy community. CURRENT PUBLICATIONS New insights into the Role of Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor in Synaptic Plasticity Substantial evidence indicates that brain-derived neurotrophic factor plays a crucial role in synaptic plasticity. [Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience] Genetic Manipulation of Neural Progenitors Derived from Human Embryonic Stem Cells This study reports the production of the first genetically modified self-renewing human embryonic stem cell-derived neural progenitors cells that express fluorescent proteins under constitutive as well as lineage-specific promoters, enabling tracking and monitoring of cell fate. [Tissue Engineering Part A] Strategies to Promote Differentiation of Newborn Neurons into Mature Functional Cells in Alzheimer Brain The researchers of this paper hypothesized that, if the Alzheimer diseased brain can support neurogenesis, strategies to stimulate the neurogenesis process could have therapeutic value in Alzheimer disease. [Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry] New Insights into the Role of Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor in Synaptic Plasticity This review discusses recent progress in understanding the mechanisms that restrict the action of brain-derived neurotrophic factor to active synapses and by which BDNF mediates chemical and structural modifications of individual synapses, placing an emphasis on the role of local protein synthesis in these processes. [Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience] INDUSTRY NEWS Connexon Creative Launches Cord Blood News Cord Blood News is a weekly e-newsletter that keeps members of the cord blood community informed by providing the latest news from all areas of the field, including its science, research, policy, and business. iZumi Bio and Pierian Merge to Form iPierian to Advance Cellular Reprogramming iZumi Bio, Inc. and Pierian, Inc. recently announced they have merged to form a new company, iPierian, Inc. Building on the iZumi infrastructure and vision, the company is focused on the application of cellular reprogramming to change the paradigm of drug discovery. Yissum Licenses Stem Cell Technologies for Spinal Therapy to TheraCell, Inc. Yissum Research Development Company of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem Ltd., recently announced that it has licensed a novel package of stem cell related technologies to TheraCell, Inc., which will further develop and commercialize the technology for advanced regenerative medicine procedures such as spinal fusion. Start-Ups Say Innovation Doesn't Grow on Trees When nearly $10 billion in stimulus funds went to the NIH this year, a last-minute change in the legislation exempted the agency from setting aside 2.8 percent of its research budget for small businesses and the commercialization of technologies developed at universities. Stem Cell Therapeutics Announces Issuance of Patents in India Stem Cell Therapeutics Corp. has been issued two patents in India: Indian Patent No. 229684 entitled, "Combined Regulation of Neural Cell Production" and Indian Patent No. 229924 entitled, "A Composition for Increasing Neural Stem Cell Number and In Vitro Method of Using the Same". First cGMP Feeder-independent Pluripotent Stem Cell Banks Released for Distribution The WiCell Research Institute and the Waisman Clinical Biomanufacturing Facility announced recently the release of the first current Good Manufacturing Practices feeder-independent pluripotent stem cell banks available for sale and distribution to researchers worldwide. POLICY NEWS NIH Guidelines for Human Stem Cell Research (NOT-OD-09-116) Embryonic Stem Cell Research Expands With U.S. Funds The final guidelines released today by the National Institutes of Health increase the number of stem cell lines available for research from 20 to more than 700. Women Should Be Paid for Eggs: Academic Women in Australia who allow their eggs to be harvested for embryonic stem cell research should be paid for the procedure, an academic says. House Approves $2.99 Billion FDA Budget The House on Thursday overwhelmingly approved a $373 million budget increase for the Food and Drug Administration, the largest boost in the agency's history. EVENTS 13th European Federation of Neurological Societies Congress September 12-15, 2009 Florence, Italy World Stem Cell Summit 2009 September 23-25, 2009 Baltimore, United States Neuroscience 2009 October 17-21, 2009 Chicago, United States  Learn more about Neural Cell News:  Archives  |  Events   |  Subscribe   |  Contact Us This email was sent by: Connexon Creative 400-570 W. 7th Avenue Vancouver, British Columbia V5Z 1B3 Canada